Skiing the heights of Lake Tahoe

With this in mind, snow sports champions know only too well thatHeavenly and Squaw Valley, which will become Olympic Valley in 2021, are world-renowned for their breathtaking scenery. And that Jean Vuarnet, the Morzinois who co-created the eponymous sunglasses, won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. He went on to become French ski champion 7 times.

All of which is to say that the snow-covered heights of Tahoe await every winter, and beyond, all snow lovers who want to reach them.

California is home to the majority of ski resorts. Bear in mind that in winter it gets really cold and snows a lot.

Squaw Valley / Olympic Valley is the historic resort where the 1960 Winter Olympics were held. If you're coming by car, you'll need chains or snow tyres, and icy conditions easily persist until April. So take care on the road. As you approach Squaw, take Highway 89, which will also take you to Alpine Meadows.

Recently renamed Olympic Valley, with a surface area of 15 km2 and 6 snow-capped mountain peaks, Squaw Valley boasts 29 ski lifts and over 170 runs. It's a Tahoe Lake must-see in winter, with more than 10 metres of snow falling every year. What's more, it's the only one in the whole of the United States to be equipped with a funitel, a ski lift suspended from two haulage cables more than 3 m apart, enabling it to carry large cabins each carrying around thirty passengers.

Another really cool feature is that the area is suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. Freestylers and other snowboarders will love the steep, even abrupt slopes, while beginners will have their own dedicated area labelled " beginner ski area" with its Big Blue zone and easy slopes.

Finally, the resort is renowned for its cultural activities and art of living, with art galleries and cinemas, mouth-watering restaurants and other sporting activities such as snowshoeing, tubing and cross-country skiing, as well as tennis and horse-riding in summer.

Alpine Meadows ski resort also lies to the north-west of the lake, just a few kilometres from Squaw Valley. Like its neighbour, it is a mecca for 'extreme' skiing. With its 10 km2 and 10 metres of snow per year, it has 100 runs and 13 lifts. Once again, there's something for everyone. Skiers and snowboarders with a good level can try out the Alpine Bowl piste, which is accessed by the Summit Six chairlift.

The two stations are not interconnected, but tickets for one are valid for the other. A bus runs between the two stations. Address: 1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley.

At 20km2, Heavenly Ski Resort, with almost 100 runs on the south side of the lake, is the largest ski resort on Lake Tahoe and the busiest, due to its worldwide reputation. As a result, lift tickets are limited in number to avoid overcrowding on the slopes and provide the best experience for users.

Heavenly is the highest of the ski resorts around the lake and one of the best equipped in terms of infrastructure. 28 ski lifts and 65 snow cannons in case it runs out. There are also cameras throughout the resort to provide you with real-time information on the weather and snow conditions on the slopes. 2 Marriotts with cinemas, restaurants, casinos and shops complete this almost perfect picture. Nightclubbers and other night owls will also find plenty to do here.

The snow is heaviest in early March, but as elsewhere around the lake, there is snow all winter, with no problems from November to April. Snowboarders can try their hand at the famous Gunbarrel bumps and jumps of over 20 metres. The resort is also renowned for its ski runs through the pines.

We've introduced you to the lake's flagship resorts, but there are more than twenty other resorts to add to this exceptional offer. So it is with Truckee, in the north-west, known for its rafting, but also its ski resorts and its Donner Lake! At an altitude of 2,624 metres, Northstar California boasts some of the best runs in the country, particularly open to snowboarders, as well as a top-class Ritz Carlton. Its runs are suitable for all levels of skier.

Northstar also stands out for its Burton Progression Park, where freestyle skiing is taught and perfected.